Giovanni Scelzi Sets Quick Time for Ninth Time and Contends for Victory at Keller Auto Speedway

Giovanni Scelzi Sets Quick Time for Ninth Time and Contends for Victory at Keller Auto Speedway

Inside Line Promotions – HANFORD, Calif. (Sept. 4, 2017) – Giovanni Scelzi was in contention for another victory last Saturday at Keller Auto Speedway. Continue reading Giovanni Scelzi Sets Quick Time for Ninth Time and Contends for Victory at Keller Auto Speedway

The Lady In Black and Lady Luck Are Unkind To Blaney And The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team

The Lady In Black and Lady Luck Are Unkind To Blaney And The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team

September 4, 2017
The Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway turned out to be a long, frustrating experience for Ryan Blaney and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team as they finished 31st, 11 laps behind the leaders. Continue reading The Lady In Black and Lady Luck Are Unkind To Blaney And The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Team

Richard Childress Racing–Southern 500

Austin Dillon Earns Best-Career Darlington Raceway Finish with Fourth-Place Showing in American Ethanol’s Throwback Chevrolet

“I’m just really proud of this team for bringing this Dale Earnhardt scheme out and making it run good like that. It means a lot to me, all the RCR guys and all of Dale’s fans. I’m proud to represent tonight. It was a good time, for sure. Our American Ethanol Chevy was really good on the long run, and that’s what we needed at the end. That last long run where we didn’t take tires… that was like water torture in the car. That’s a long run at Darlington with no tires. It’s been a fun year and hopefully we can take this into the playoffs and run really well. You want the momentum going into the playoffs and that’s what’s happening for our team. We have a great group of people at RCR. We’re a big family team that works hard.”

– Austin Dillon Continue reading Richard Childress Racing–Southern 500

Two-time Pro Stock world champ Erica Enders remains bullish on her chances in Indy

Two-time Pro Stock world champ Erica Enders remains bullish on her chances in Indy
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 3) — Erica Enders has been to the top of the drag racing world twice, finishing as Pro Stock world champion in 2014 and 2015. She’s the most decorated female racer in class history and she even has a victory at the sport’s biggest race — the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals — in 2015.

Maybe that’s why she sounds so bullish on her chances of winning drag racing’s crown jewel for a second time Monday when eliminations begin at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indy. Continue reading Two-time Pro Stock world champ Erica Enders remains bullish on her chances in Indy

Chevy Racing–Darlington Post Race

TOP TEAM CHEVY FINISHERS:
POS. DRIVER
4TH AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 AMERICAN ETHANOL CHEVY SS
7TH RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 31 CATERPILLAR CHEVY SS
10TH JAMIE MCMURRAY, NO. 1 MCDONALD’S CHEVY SS
11TH CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 NAPA CHEVY SS
12TH JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVY SS
13TH TY DILLON, NO. 13 GEICO CHEVY SS*** MATCHES CAREER BEST MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES FINISH
14TH KYLE LARSON, NO. 42 CREDIT ONE BANK CHEVY SS

TOP FIVE FINISHERS:
POS. DRIVER
1ST Denny Hamlin (Toyota)
2nd Kyle Busch (Toyota
3rd Kurt Busch (Ford)
4th Austin Dillon (Chevy)
5th Erik Jones (Toyota)

PLAYOFF PICTURE:
Chevy Driver’s Locked Into the 2017 Playoffs:
Jimmie Johnson – 3 Wins
Kyle Larson – 3 Wins
Ryan Newman – 1 Win
Austin Dillon – 1 Win
Kasey Kahne – 1 Win

Going into Richmond Chase Elliott is the highest driver in points without a win. There are currently still two positions open as there have been 14 different winners thus far in 2017. Elliott is seventh in the standings, two points ahead of Matt Kenseth (Toyota), who is the second highest driver in points without a win. Jamie McMurray ninth in the standings and only one point behind Kenseth. Elliott and McMurray will both have to finish ahead of Kenseth in order to claim the final two Playoff spots.

The next stop on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule is at Richmond Raceway for the Federated Auto Parts 400 – the deciding race on which driver’s will compete for the 2017 championship title – on Saturday, Sept. 9th.

POST RACE NOTES AND QUOTES:

AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 AMERICAN ETHANOL CHEVROLET SS – Finished 4th
“I’m just really proud of this team for bringing out this Dale Earnhardt scheme out and making it run good like that… it means a lot to me and all the RCR guys. I’m proud to represent tonight. It was a good time, for sure. The American Ethanol Chevy was good. That long run was like torture; those guys were coming on (newer) tires so we had to be really smooth and it worked out for us.”

DESCRIBE WHAT IT’S LIKE TO RACE DARLINGTON ON OLD TIRES:
“I can’t think of a description. It’s like not having enough milk in your cup when you have a Chips Ahoy cookie left. You want a little bit more milk in there to make the cookie good. We were out of milk!”

HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO CONTINUE TO WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH THE FIELD:
“I like these long races, it takes me awhile to get going on restarts. That’s something we’ve been working on really hard. Our American Ethanol Chevy was really good on the long run, and that’s what we needed at the end. That last long run where we didn’t take tires… that was like water torture in the car. That’s a long run at Darlington with no tires. It’s been a fun year and hopefully we can take this into the playoffs and run really well.”

HOW MUCH PROMISE DOES THE SPEED YOU’VE HAD THE LAST FEW WEEKS GIVE YOU GOING INTO THE PLAYOFFS?
“It’s great. You want the momentum going into the playoffs. We have a great team at RCR… a big family team that works hard. This was such a cool weekend to bring this Dale Earnhardt scheme out. I’m glad we represented well tonight.”

RYAN NEWMAN, NO. 31 CATERPILLAR CHEVROLET SS – Finished 7th
“We had a pretty good car and a couple of bad pit stops. We had one great pit stop, but just never got the track position that we needed for the short run to be able to show what we were capable of on the long run.”
JAMIE MCMURRAY, NO. 1 MCDONALD’S CHEVROLET SS – Finished 10th
ON HIS RACE AT DARLINGTON:
“Well, we had a fan go out that cool the rear-end and so we had to come in and work on that. We went to the back, but we could still only get back to about like, I think we got up to sixth in the first stage and then ran somewhere between sixth and 10th or sixth and 12th and we finished 10th. So, probably didn’t really hurt our night. A lot of long green flag runs and we weren’t very good on the short run, but we were really good at the end of a run. So, that kind of worked out to our favor.”

LOOKING TOWARD RICHMOND:
“Well, I don’t really know. I know the No. 77 didn’t win tonight, which is the one that I think everyone…at least we’ve talked about, but one more night. I don’t know where I am versus the other guys.”

CHASE ELLIOTT, NO. 24 NAPA CHEVROLET SS – Finished 11th
ON HIS RACE:
“Yeah, you know we just weren’t very good all day and really just as an organization really struggled, so we need to step up. This is the time of year to get it going and it was a hard-fought night. I thought we made the very most of what we had and somedays that’s all you can do.”

THOUGHTS ON RICHMOND?
“I just hope we can have a clean race and not have any issues next week.”

JIMMIE JOHNSON, NO. 48 LOWE’S CHEVROLET SS – Finished 12th
ON THE RACE:
“Our car had respectable short-run speed and then it would just get so loose. With all the long runs that really didn’t work out well for us and I actually blew a tire with like 20 laps to go and fortunately was on my way into pit lane or almost to where I could turn into pit lane. So, fortunately I got lucky and I was able to get back out there on tires and drive back up to 12th, but blew a tire at the absolute right time if you are going to blow one and got to pit lane.”

TY DILLON, NO. 13 GEICO CHEVROLET SS – Finished 13th
Matches His Career Best Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Finish
“It was a good day. My first Southern 500, I enjoy it. I love this race track. I just love when you come to a track and the tires get worn out and you’ve got to be patient. And you’ve got to treat that throttle pedal like an egg and you can really make a lot of difference on a long run. That was what we were able to do tonight with our GEICO Chevy. I’m just proud of the guys. We had a good piece in practice and it was nice just to have a really solid weekend through and through. When you add in the honor of representing a race car from years past that was driven by Johnny Rutherford and fielded by Smokey Yunick – it really adds to the great night for our GEICO team here at Darlington. Good momentum going back to Richmond another track that we ran really well at. Excited for the end of this year.”

CHRIS BUESCHER, NO. 37 CHEERIOS CHEVROLET SS- Finished 17th
“Well, an eventful very long race at Darlington. Awesome to have Cheerios on board in our Patty Moise throwback. Overall, just a tough start. Kind of knew that the daylight was going to be difficult and then as the night fell I feel like we made some gains on it and got it a little better by the end and was able to move around. I think that is all you can ask for is to make steady improvements through the day. We got a decent finish out of it. I wanted a little bit more, but not bad.”

DALE EARNHARDT, JR., NO. 88 NATIONWIDE CHEVROLET SS- Finished 22nd
“They pulled me over because I’ve got some loose lugnuts on the right-rear. Yeah, I mean when they saw they picked right up on it. I had a really bad vibration that last run and there was a bunch of them loose on the right-rear. They must have just kind of had a screw up. It wasn’t intentional they wouldn’t leave two loose like that when they are not even tight up on the wheel. So, something must have happened on the pit stop because those guys have been great all night. Just had a really bad vibration, came in and got tires, we had a flat at the very end. Something was going, the right-rear was going down for a very long time and finally it went flat. Came in changed that and went back out and it was so loose you couldn’t go so we had to abuse those tires too much at the end. Twelfth to 15th is where we all ran and I’m not too disappointed because we sat there and ran right with our teammates all night.”

With points leader out, things could be falling into place for two-time Pro Mod champ Troy Coughlin

With points leader out, things could be falling into place for two-time Pro Mod champ Troy Coughlin
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 3) — So far, the 63rd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals have been a dream race for two-time Pro Mod champion Troy Coughlin.

Coughlin qualified his JEGS.com twin-turbo Corvette second on the grid of drag racing’s biggest race and won his first-round race Sunday night over Jim Whiteley. The win was great, but perhaps even more importantly, season-long points leader and top qualifier Mike Castellana was upset in the same round, paving the way for Coughlin to close the 82-point deficit he has to Castellana in the J&A Service Pro Mod Drag Racing Series points standings. Continue reading With points leader out, things could be falling into place for two-time Pro Mod champ Troy Coughlin

Hagan Qualifies Mopar Dodge Funny Car No. 1 at NHRA U.S. Nationals, Beckman Wins Traxxas Nitro Shootout

Hagan Qualifies Mopar Dodge Funny Car No. 1 at NHRA U.S. Nationals, Beckman Wins Traxxas Nitro Shootout

Matt Hagan qualifies Mopar 80th/Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car No. 1 for 63rd annual NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis
Hagan’s pass of 3.799 seconds at 338.77 mph resets both ends of track record
No. 1 qualifying effort is Hagan’s second in a row at U.S. Nationals, fourth of season and 30th of career Continue reading Hagan Qualifies Mopar Dodge Funny Car No. 1 at NHRA U.S. Nationals, Beckman Wins Traxxas Nitro Shootout

Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking for Y2K magic as Indy drag race turns to eliminations

Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking for Y2K magic as Indy drag race turns to eliminations
INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 3) — Five-time Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. made a little drag racing history in 2000 when he became the first driver to win an NHRA race from the No. 16 qualifying position. It just so happens he accomplished the feat at the sport’s biggest drag race — the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals. Continue reading Jeg Coughlin Jr. looking for Y2K magic as Indy drag race turns to eliminations

Chevy Racing–NHRA–U.S. Nationals Qualifying

CHEVROLET RACING IN NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION
63rd CHEVROLET PERFORMANCE U.S. NATIONALS
LUCAS OIL RACEWAY AT INDIANAPOLIS IN BROWNSBURG, INDIANA
QUALIFYING RESULTS AND DRIVER QUOTES
SUNDAY, SEPT. 3, 2017

Chevrolet Drivers Well-Positioned for Success in Biggest Race of Season
· Greg Anderson claims fifth No. 1 Pro Stock qualifier honor in the event
· Robert Hight leads John Force Racing 2, 3, 4 Funny Car qualifiers
· Hight’s Chevrolet Camaro SS is runner-up in Traxxas Funny Car Shootout
· Chevrolet COPO Camaros continue to win Sportsman rounds Continue reading Chevy Racing–NHRA–U.S. Nationals Qualifying

Monster Energy driver Brittany Force chases first U.S. Nationals title from No. 8 spot

Monster Energy driver Brittany Force chases
first U.S. Nationals title from No. 8 spot

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 3) – A wide smile came to the face of Monster Energy driver Brittany Force’s face when she thought of the possibility of winning the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway.

Force certainly has that chance, as she qualified No. 8 and had the third-quickest run in the final qualifying session Sunday. Continue reading Monster Energy driver Brittany Force chases first U.S. Nationals title from No. 8 spot

Despite Traxxas Shootout disappointment, Auto Club’s Robert Hight ready for U.S. Nationals

Despite Traxxas Shootout disappointment,
Auto Club’s Robert Hight ready for U.S. Nationals

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 3) – Even though the Traxxas Shootout slipped through the fingers of Auto Club of Southern California Chevrolet Camaro SS driver Robert Hight, the quickest and fastest Funny Car driver in NHRA history is confident heading into the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals on Sunday at Lucas Oil Raceway.

Hight reached the final round of the special, non-points Traxxas Shootout on Sunday for the fourth year in a row. But he smoked the tires just short of the 330-foot mark and came up short again. Continue reading Despite Traxxas Shootout disappointment, Auto Club’s Robert Hight ready for U.S. Nationals

PEAK Chevy driver John Force aims for fifth Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals win from No. 4 qualifying spot

PEAK Chevy driver John Force aims for fifth Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals win from No. 4 qualifying spot

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 3) – John Force will attempt to win his fifth Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway, the 18th race of the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule, from the No. 4 qualifying position. Continue reading PEAK Chevy driver John Force aims for fifth Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals win from No. 4 qualifying spot

Advance Auto driver Courtney Force earns No. 3 qualifying position for Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals

Advance Auto driver Courtney Force earns No. 3 qualifying position for Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 3) – Courtney Force earned the No. 3 qualifying position in the Funny Car class for Monday’s Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway at Indianapolis, and she will take on Cruz Pedregon in the first round of the most prestigious race on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series circuit. Continue reading Advance Auto driver Courtney Force earns No. 3 qualifying position for Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals

Ruhl takes his 3rd SOD Mike Olrich Memorial win at Crystal Motor Speedway

ERIE, MI (September 3, 2017) – Ryan Ruhl (Coldwater, MI) capped off a great weekend by putting on a dominating performance to win his third consecutive annual Mike Olrich Memorial last night at Crystal Motor Speedway. The race was the final points race for Engine Pro Sprints On Dirt Presented by ARP 2017 season. The 25 lap SOD feature was run caution-free and in record time. Ruhl also won the SOD King Engine Bearing King of Michigan race at Hartford Speedway Friday night. Continue reading Ruhl takes his 3rd SOD Mike Olrich Memorial win at Crystal Motor Speedway

Allen Johnson Closes Out U.S. Nationals Qualifying No. 10, Clinches Spot in Countdown to the Championship

Allen Johnson Closes Out U.S. Nationals Qualifying No. 10, Clinches Spot in Countdown to the Championship

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (September 3, 2017) – It’s been an emotional weekend so far for the Marathon Petroleum/J&J Racing Dodge Dart team led by 2012 Pro Stock World Champion Allen Johnson. With Johnson’s retirement announcement coming on Friday afternoon at the 63rd annual U.S. Nationals, he quickly turned his focus back to performing on track and working to win his first U.S. Nationals in his 22-year career. Continue reading Allen Johnson Closes Out U.S. Nationals Qualifying No. 10, Clinches Spot in Countdown to the Championship

Rossi Heads Honda Sweep at Watkins Glen

Rossi Heads Honda Sweep at Watkins Glen
• Alexander Rossi claims second career IndyCar victory, first of 2017
• Scott Dixon closes on championship lead with second-place result
• Ryan Hunter-Reay completes 1-2-3 sweep for Honda

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (September 3, 2017) – Alexander Rossi led a 1-2-3 Honda sweep of the podium Sunday at the INDYCAR Grand Prix of the Glen, with Scott Dixon making a massive gain in the drivers’ championship standings following a second-place finish and Ryan Hunter-Reay rounding out the top three at Watkins Glen International Raceway.
Continue reading Rossi Heads Honda Sweep at Watkins Glen

Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Watkins Glen–Post Race

CHEVROLET RACING IN THE VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES
INDYCAR GRAND PRIX AT THE GLEN
WATKINS GLEN INTERNATIONAL
TEAM CHEVY DRIVER POST RACE NOTES, QUOTES & RECAP
SEPTEMBER 3, 2017

WATKINS GLEN, NY (SEPTEMBER 3, 2017) – As has been the case in the Verizon Verizon IndyCar Series since Chevrolet rejoined the Series in 2012 the Driver/Team as well as Manufacturer championships will come down to the season-ending race at Sonoma Raceway. Josef Newgarden came into the Grand Prix at the Glen with a 31-point lead in the standings in his quest for his first Series’ championship. Continue reading Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–Watkins Glen–Post Race

Mopar Funny Car Driver Hagan Remains No. 1 in NHRA U.S. Nationals Qualifying

Mopar Funny Car Driver Hagan Remains No. 1 in NHRA U.S. Nationals Qualifying

Tony Schumacher Finishes in Final Round of Traxxas Top Fuel Nitro Shootout

Mopar HEMI®-powered Matt Hagan maintains No. 1 qualifying position in Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car
Leah Pritchett is currently qualified No. 2 in Mopar Top Fuel dragster
Tony Schumacher puts Mopar in final round of Traxxas Top Fuel Nitro Shootout Continue reading Mopar Funny Car Driver Hagan Remains No. 1 in NHRA U.S. Nationals Qualifying

INDY DAY 2: Auto Club driver Robert Hight improves but stays No. 2 in U.S. Nationals qualifying

INDY DAY 2: Auto Club driver Robert Hight improves
but stays No. 2 in U.S. Nationals qualifying

BROWNSBURG, Ind. (Sept. 2) – Robert Hight maintained the No. 2 position in the Funny Car class after the second day of qualifying for the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals on Saturday at Lucas Oil Raceway, but improved his time significantly in drag racing’s most prestigious race. Continue reading INDY DAY 2: Auto Club driver Robert Hight improves but stays No. 2 in U.S. Nationals qualifying

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